The Angels bullpen's journey from treacherous to trustworthy suddenly looks like it might have come with a round-trip ticket. For the third time in four games since the All-Star break, the Angels got no relief from their bullpen as Hisanori Takahashi and LaTroy Hawkins took their turn as culprits, surrendering a one-run lead in the seventh inning at Comerica Park Monday night, and losing to the Detroit Tigers 8-6.

It was the second blown save and loss for an Angels reliever in the past four games. Scott Downs surrendered a three-run lead and lost to the Yankees Friday night. Downs and Ernesto Frieri struggled to close out a win in New York on Sunday as well, shrinking a five-run lead to two runs before it was over.

"We knew Scotty Downs and Ernie weren't giving up anything for a long time. You knew there were going to be some nicks there," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said after Monday's loss. "But the depth of our bullpen – although it's improved – it needs to stay there. We used a lot of innings in our bullpen just before the break and a lot in New York and innings tonight again. Those guys have been pitching a lot and we need things to stabilize and get back into some roles that were defined."

Thanks to the starting pitchers' failure to get deep into games on a regular basis, the bullpen did pitch 42 innings in the final 13 games before the break. But they took a 14 2/3-inning scoreless streak into the All-Star break - and then got four days off.

Since returning from the break, one reliever (Jordan Walden) has gone to the DL with a sore arm and the others have combined to give up 11 runs on nine hits (including three home runs) and 11 walks in six innings with two blown saves in four games after blowing just four in the two months before the break.

The Angels' three most reliable relievers have been responsible for most of the damage – Downs (four runs allowed), Frieri (three) and now Hawkins (two).

"I think overall there's a lot of guys down there that have been pitching well for us," Scioscia said of the bullpen. "Some guys have been missing spots. Some guys have been a little wild. We're facing some deep offenses and there's a premium on making pitches. Some of these guys might have been a little too fine in some counts.

"Like I've said, these guys aren't machines. They're going to give up runs occasionally. But I think some of the things we're seeing have just been some guys being out there a lot before the break and then the New York series and now this one. You can't have all these guys sharp and available every night if you're using them so much."

Right-hander Ervin Santana did give them a quality start – the first by an Angels pitcher other than Jered Weaver or C.J. Wilson since June 24 – albeit a flawed one. Santana did get through six innings and allowed only two earned runs. But the Angels gave the Tigers two more unearned runs on errors by shortstop Erick Aybar and Santana himself.

When Santana left after six innings, though, the Angels led 5-4.

"I thought he pitched well," Scioscia said. "Some plays we didn't make influenced his outing. He had to pitch harder to get out of some innings.

"I thought it was a step forward that's for sure."

The backward steps were left to the bullpen.

Takahashi gave up a leadoff single to Quintin Berry in the seventh and was replaced by Hawkins. Hawkins got Miguel Cabrera to ground out and intentionally walked Prince Fielder. But Berry stole second and third base — running the Angels' league-leading total of stolen bases allowed to 80 — and scored the tying run on Delmon Young's sacrifice fly.

The Angels' Torii Hunter (left) congratulates Maicer Izturis after Izturis scored on a Mike Trout RBI single against the Detroit Tigers in the fifth inning on Monday in Detroit. Paul Sancya, AP Photo
Prince Fielder of the Detroit Tigers slides into third base during the fifth inning on Monday at Comerica Park in Detroit. Leon Halip, Getty Images
The Angels Torii Hunter celebrates with teammate Kendrys Morales after scoring on the double from Albert Pujols in the fifth inning on Monday at Comerica Park in Detroit. Leon Halip, Getty Images
Brennan Boesch (left) of the Detroit Tigers hits a two-run home run to right field scoring Prince Fielder during the seventh inning on Monday at Comerica Park in Detroit. Leon Halip, Getty Images
The Angels' Maicer Izturis scores as Detroit Tigers catcher Alex Avila waits for the throw on a Mike Trout RBI single in the fifth inning on Monday in Detroit. Paul Sancya, AP Photo
Prince Fielder (center) of the Detroit Tigers celebrates with his teammates after scoring on a fielders choice in the fourth inning against the Angels at Comerica Park on Monday in Detroit. Leon Halip, Getty Images
The Angels' Mark Trumbo (center) celebrates hitting a solo home run against the Detroit Tigers in the eighth inning of a baseball game in Detroit, Monday, July 16, 2012. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Paul Sancya, AP Photo
Detroit Tigers' Alex Avila waits for the throw as the Angels Mike Trout scores the 2nd run on a hit by the Angels Torii Hunter during the 5th inning in Detroit. Julian H. Gonzalez, Detroit Free Press/MCT
Detroit Tigers' Jhonny Peralta can't get the tag down as the Angels' Erick Aybar steals 2nd base during the 3rd inning in Detroit. Julian H. Gonzalez, Detroit Free Press/MCT
Detroit Tigers' Jhonny Peralta gloves the ball saving a run on a hit by the Angels' John Hester during the 6th inning in Detroit. Julian H. Gonzalez, Detroit Free Press/MCT
Detroit Tigers catcher Alex Avila tags the Angels' Erick Aybar out at home plate in the third inning in Detroit. AP Photo, Paul Sancya
Ervin Santana of the Angels pitches during the second inning at Comerica Park on Monday in Detroit. Leon Halip, Getty Images
Detroit Tigers shortstop Jhonny Peralta jumps over the Angels' Torii Hunter (bottom) at second base to complete a double play in the first inning in Detroit. Paul Sancya, AP Photo
Detroit Tigers shortstop Jhonny Peralta reaches for the Angels' Erick Aybar (bottom) as he steals second base in the third inning in Detroit. Paul Sancya, AP Photo
Detroit Tigers catcher Alex Avila (right) tags the Angels' Erick Aybar out at home plate in the third inning in Detroit. Paul Sancya, AP Photo
Detroit Tigers left fielder Quintin Berry catches a fly ball hit by the Angels' Kendrys Morales during the second inning in Detroit on Monday. Paul Sancya, AP Photo

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